Browsing by Subject "bioaccumulation"

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Access status: Open Access ,
Comparative analysis of Helix pomatia L. shells found in soils with varying degrees of contamination (southern Poland)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2015) Aleksander-Kwaterczak, Urszula; Gołas-Siarzewska, Magdalena
Soil samples and snails – Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758 specimens were collected from the region of Małopolska. Research based on soil from this area showed a differentiated degree of environmental contamination, which influenced the composition of elements that build mollusc shells. Concentrations of Pb, Mn, Cd, Fe, Zn and Cu in the snail shells and soil varied between localities. The highest of these concentrations were found in the soil in the city of Cracow. They were higher than those measured in the regions outside the city, 7 times in the case of Cd, and up to 123 times higher for Cu. Positive association between soil pollution and shell contamination can be observed ($r_{s} \approx$ 0.9). A high concentration of metals in the environment and their bioavailability causes long-term accumulation of these elements in Helix pomatia shells.
Access status: Open Access ,
Suitability study of using birch and willow trees in phytoremediation of acidic waste settlers
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2013) Jarosz-Krzemińska, Elżbieta; Adamiec, Ewa
Research addresses the issue of assessing the possibility of using birch and willow trees in phytoremediation of acidic waste settlers. In order to determine the suitability of these trees to bioaccumulate metals it was crucial to first characterized the physico-chemical parameters of the waste. Both waste and leaves samples were analyzed with respect to heavy metals concentration using microwave digestion (cone. HNO3) procedure followed by AAS analyzes. Moreover, the mobility of contaminants from waste was studied using aqueous leaching test as well as sequential extraction procedures. Investigated waste is very inhomogeneous and is characterized with diversity of pH values within sampling points (2.9-7.0) as well as with high concentration of $SO_{4}^{2-}$ anions (1203-1301 mg/dm$^{3}$), Fe (11-19%) and Zn (64-172 mg/kg). Ability to accumulate metals in birch and willow leaves is high. In birch leaves Zn was accumulated up to toxic level of 431 mg/kg, Mn up to 790 mg/kg, Cu up to 9 mg/kg, Pb up to 21 mg/kg. In willow leaves Zn concentration were found to be even higher and reached 679 mg/kg. Concentrations of remaining metals in willow leaves were as follows: Mn up to 173 mg/kg, Cu up to 17 mg/kg and Pb up to 10 mg/kg. Research results confirmed that both birch and willow trees growing on settlers have high tolerance to the adverse living conditions caused by metal stress and low pH of the foundation. These trees can be used for the purpose of phytoremediation of investigated waste settlers.